Lecompton has won a $400,000 state grant that will allow it to build a new water plant to improve the quality of its drinking water.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced Friday that the Douglas County town had been awarded a Community Development Block Grant that would allow the $1.1 million project to move forward.

“It is real good news,” Lecompton Mayor Roy Paslay said. “Our old plant is worn out.”

Paslay said the existing plant is about 30 years old, and had sparked concerns from residents for producing hard water.

“Our water isn’t dangerous to drink, but it is harder than it should be,” said Bruce Liese, a member of the Lecompton City Council.

Paslay said he hoped work could begin on the new plant in 2007 and be finished sometime in 2008. The city already has qualified for low-interest financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. The city plans to finance about $790,000 and pay it off over a 40-year period, Paslay said. He said an increase in water rates may be needed to pay for the project, but said that hadn’t been determined yet.

The new plant, which will be near the location of the current plant, also will help accommodate new growth in the area. Paslay said a Lawrence developer is interested in building 20 new homes in the town of about 600 people.

In total, the Department of Commerce on Friday awarded

$5.6 million in water and sewer grants to 17 cities across the state.